Anti-skid traction device

ABSTRACT

A device providing road-engaging elements adapted to extend transversely across and to be yieldably drawn and held against the road-engaging treads of pneumatic tires on a vehicle. The device is constructed to be readily applied to each tire from the outer side thereof relative to the side adjacent the vehicle body, without fastening it to the wheel. Said road-engaging elements are each generally of U-shape to straddle the tire with the closed end of the U extending across the tread and one of the legs at each opposite side, providing an inner leg at the inner side and an outer leg at the outer side, and the elements are at opposite sides of the tire in pairs spaced around the circumference. The device includes a member engageable with, but not securable to the outer side of the tire, and yieldable tensioning means at the outer side only of a wheel, yieldably hold said member substantially coaxial with the wheel and against said outer side of the tire, and yieldably hold the elements on the tire, which tensioning means, outer legs, and said member are arranged and formed to coact to hold the road-engaging elements substantially uniformly tight against the road-engaging surface of the tire tread from side-to-side of the tread irrespective of the degree of radially inwardly directed tension applied to said outer legs by said tensioning means. Thus the inner legs on said elements may be quite short.

United States Patent 1191 Mathews 11] 3,732,910 1 1 May 15, 1973 [54]ANTI-SKID TRACTION DEVICE Arthur Cahlan Mathews, 15 Cordova Court,PortolaValley, Calif. 94625 22 Filed: Sept. 2, 1971 21 Appl.No.: 177,290

[76] lnventor:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,530,922 9/1970' Mathews .152 225 2,598,2985/1952 Pindjak ......1s2/225 2,767,761 10/1956 OHiggins ..1s2/225Primary Examiner-James B. Marbert I Attorney- Boyken, Mohler, Foster &Schwab 57 ABSTRACT I A device providing road-engaging elements adaptedto extend transversely, across and to be yieldably drawn 7 and heldagainst the road-engaging treads of pneumatic tires on a vehicle. Thedevice is constructed to be readily applied to each tire from the outerside thereof relative to the side adjacent the vehicle body, withoutfastening it to the wheel. Said road-engaging elements are eachgenerally of U-sliape to straddle the tire with the closed end of the Uextending across the tread and one of the legs at each opposite side,providing an inner leg at the inner side and an outer leg at the outerside, and the elements are at opposite sides of the tire in pairs spacedaround the circumference. The device includes a member engageable with,but not securable to the outer side of the tire, and yieldabletensioning means at the outer side only of a wheel, yieldably hold saidmember substantially coaxial with the wheel and against said outer sideof the tire, and yieldably hold the elements on the tire, whichtensioning means, outer legs, and said member are arranged and formed tocoact to hold the road-engaging elements substantially uniformly tightagainst the roadengaging surface of the tire tread from side-to-side ofthe tread irrespective of the degree of radially inwardly directedtension applied to said outer legs by said tensioning means. Thus theinner legs on said elements may be quite short.

10 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHAY 1 51915 3732.910

FIG.2 A 'F|G.1

INVENTOR ARTHUR C. MATHEWS BY 12 .4,, waab m KM ATTORNEYS ANTI-SKIDTRACTION DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is similar toand an improvement on the invention disclosed in my US. Pat. No.3,530,922 of Sept. 29, I970.

Heretofore in anti-skid devices, in which the legs at one side ofgenerally U-shaped elementsstraddling a tire, have been drawn radiallyinwardly to draw the closed ends of the U of each element against thetread, the road-engaging elements are more tightly drawn against theedge of the tread at the side of the tire where the tension is applied,than at the opposite edge. In other words the road-engaging elementswould tilt toward the side where the tensioning force was applied.

This could be overcome to a degree by a heavy,cumbersome use of rigidarms, rigid with the U-shaped ele ments slidably supported in guidessecured on the wheel, but where the U-shaped elements were tensionedagainst the tread by tensioning means at one side only of the tire,which was desirable from the standpoint of lightness of weight and easeof installation and removal, the objection remained.

SUMMARY One of the objects of this invention is the provision of asimple, economical, effective, light weight, antiskid device for a wheelhaving a pneumatic tire thereon, that includes U-shaped road-engagingelements that extend across the tread of the tire with the legs of eachelement straddling the tire, and which elements are applied to each tirefrom its outer side only and are tightened against the tread from theouter side and are unsecured to the wheel, and which device includes amember and yieldable tensioning means at the outer side of the wheel inengagement with the legs on said elements at said outer side incooperative relation for holding said elements in substantiallyuniformly tight engagement with the tread surface from side to sideirrespective of the radially inwardly tension applied to said outer legsby said tensioning means.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the description anddrawings.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of theanti-skid device on the tire of a vehicle.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view at line 2-2 of FIG. 1,certain parts beyond the section line being omitted for clarity and partof the rim and end of the axle being indicated in broken lines.

FIG. 3 is a reduced size perspective view of one of the road engagingelements of the device FIG. 4 is an enlarged elevational view in fullline of one of the tensioning members in locked position with thetensioning member shown in broken lines in re leased position.

FIG. 5 is a modification of the structure shown in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE In FIGS. 1 and 2 the outline of the tireon a wheel is generally designated 1, and in FIG. 2 a portion of theconventional drop-center rim is indicated in broken lines at 2 (FIG. 1),the outer side of the tire being the right-hand side as seen in FIG. 2and the side facing the viewer as seen in FIG. 1. The shoulders of thetire are indicated at 3. Tires may vary in cross-sectional outline andsize, and obvious'variations may be made in the present invention toadapt it to the varying contours and sizes, although the presentinvention is not restricted to one size or contour.

The road-engaging elements shown in the drawings comprise generallyU-shaped elements generally designated 4 having a shorter leg 5 adaptedto extend over the inner shoulder 3 of a tire, and an outer leg 6adapted to extend over the outer shoulder.

The inner side of the wheel, which includes the tire, is the side thatfaces the vehicle or chassis of the vehicle, while the outer side is theside that faces out wardly of the vehicle.

These words inner and outer" wherever used herein with reference to thetire or wheel or lateral surfaces of the tire or wheel will means thesides or surfaces as above defined.

The closed end of each road-engaging element is the portion that extendstransversely across the tread of the tire and that is connected with thelegs.

Each generally U-shaped road-engaging element may be in the form of askeleton frame (FIG. 3) in which a pair of parallel, spaced,road-engaging bars 8 extend transversely across the tread of the: tire,and extensions 9 of bars 8 form the shorter leg, which extensions areconnected by a cross bar 10 forming the outer end of leg 5. Theextensions 9 may extend across and past the inner shoulder only arelatively short distance (FIG. 2) and at an obtuse angle relative tobars 8.

The longer leg 6 is defined by longer extensions 11 of bars 8, and alsoextend at an obtuse angle relative to said bars (FIG. 2). Saidextensions 11 extend convergently from the ends of bars 8 (FIGS. 1, 3)and are connected at their outer ends by cross bar 12 forming the outerend of leg 6. An intermediate bar 13 connects extensions 11 between theupper and outer ends of leg 6 and its main function is to provide forconnection with a tensioning member as will later be explained.

A circular disc, generally designated 16, formed with a marginal portion17 (FIGS. 1, 2) is adapted to be positioned coaxial with the wheelhaving tire I thereon,

and is dished outwardly relative to the wheel so that said marginalportion engages the outer side wall of the tire along a line spacedradially inwardly of shoulder 3. Thus the central portion 18 of the discprojects axially outwardly relative to the marginal portion 17 andoutwardly of the wheel axle and hub cap.

Around the central portion are adjacent pairs of spaced outwardlyprojecting portions 19 in an annular row equally spaced from each otherproviding a radially extending, outwardly opening groove 20 between eachadjacent pair of projecting portion 19. The outer ends of these groovesare open and may terminate at the marginal portion while the inner openends terminate at the central portion 18. The opposed side walls 21 ofgrooves 20 are parallel except for portions 22 that extend divergentlyoutwardly from points adjacent to, but spaced from the inner open endsand from the axially outwardly facing surfaces of projections 18. Thelower edges of these portions 22 extend slantingly to the marginalportion 17 and an inclined ledge or shoulder or ramp 23 joins the loweredge of each portion 22 with the side 21 of the groove that is at thesame side.

Pairs of grooves or recesses 20 arediametrically opposite each otheralong opposite marginal portions of the disc, and elastic bands 24 areadapted to fit within the grooves.

As previously stated, the intermediate cross bars 13 are for securementto tensioning means, or bands 24.

When a pair of road-engaging elements 4 are fitted over a tire at twodiametrically opposite points, with opposite ends of the band secured tothe cross piece 13 of said pair and the band is tensioned, the outerends of the longer legs 6 of the element 4 at the ends of the end bar 12will slidably ride on shoulders 23, while the shorter leg will beagainst shoulders 3 of the tire. The tighter the tension on theroad-engaging elements the more firm the rod engaging bars will engagethe tread and the more firmly the shorter leg 5 will engage the tire atthe shoulder adjacent to said leg. The element fulcrums or tends tofulcrum about the outer end of the longer leg 16 to effect the aforesaidresult.

Each band 24 may be in two parts or sections releasably connected by atensioning device 25. Each device or coupling may comprise an eye 26secured to the end of one section of each band 24. The outer closed endof each eye is a bar 27. An arm 28 is connected by a pivot 29 to thelaterally offset end portion of an elongated member 30. Member 30 issecured to the terminal end of the other section of the band. One sideof arm 28 is formed with one or more notches 31.

To apply each opposite pair of elements 4 on a tire at opposite pointsaround the tire, the pairs of opposite elements are applied insuccession. The elements 4 of each pair, at a time, are positioned overthe tire at opposite points with their longer legs 6 at the outer sidesof the tire. This is relatively easy inasmuch as the legs 5 are short,and are readily passed over the tread, even though the fender may berelatively close.

After the first pair of road and tire-engaging elements 4 are positionedover the tire, the arm 28 on one of the belt sections is slipped throughthe eye 26 on the other section and bars 27 on the eye may be insertedin one of the notches 31 in arm 28 when the arm is in the releasedposition 32, (FIG. 4).

The disc 16 may be then positioned between the loosely coupled band 24and the tire in a position in which a pair of aligned grooves are inregister below the connected band. Arm 28 may then be swung to the fullline position, thus tensioning the band. The disc 16 will then be heldin position with its marginal portion 17 against the side of the tire,and the shorter leg 5 on the road-engaging elements 4 tight against theinner shoulder 3 of the tire and the tread-engaging bars 8 against thetread. The provision of several notches 31 enables different degrees oftensioning, if desired, or adapts the device to differently inflatedtires and different sized tires.

The remaining bands 24 are applied in the same manner asabove-described, and when all are in position, axial tension will beapplied to the disc to tightly hold it coaxial with the tire and againstits outer side.

In each instance, the pivot 29 will move past the line of maximumtension when the arm 28 is swung to the full line position, to hold thebands in tension until the arms are pulled outwardly.

The distance between the legs 5 and 6 may obviously be sufficient toenable the device to be applied to tires of different widths. Theinclined seat or ledge 23 on which the outer end of the longer legs 6ride during tensioning of the elements 4, insures a tight fit of theelements even though the distance between the legs 5, 6 are greater thanthe width of the tire.

A stop 33 is provided at the upper end of each inclined seat or ledge23. This stop provides a fixed fulcrum point for each of the roadengaging elements 4 under circumstances where the contour or size of thetire, or its degree of inflation would result in undesired looseness ofthe elements on the tire.

The degree of elasticity of the yieldable bands 24 is such that theelements 4 will still pivot upon engagement of the outer ends of thelegs 6 and stops 33 so as to insure firm yieldable engagement betweenthe bars 8 and the tread of the tire, and to prevent the elements 4 frombeing pulled off the tire. In some instances the outer ends of the legs6 will initially be in engagement with the stops 33 when the elementsare installed on the wheel.

The spacing between the road-engaging bars 8 is preferably equal aroundthe tire where this portion of the tread-engaging elements is restrictedto the use of bars 8 only.

It should be noted that the distance between the outwardly divergingopposed sides 22 of the grooves 20 is such as to prevent any wedging orbending of the legs 6 in the grooves. In actual use, as the leadingtreadengaging bar 8 engages the road during rotation of the wheel, thetrailing bar 8 tends to lift away from the tread, and the spacingbetween sides 22 permits a slight movement of this kind.

In the modification shown in FIG. 5 the tread and road engaging portionhas an open tread design made up of bars 34 that are integrally formedwith the legs of the U-shaped elements, that may be more effective forpreventing lateral skidding as well as having the traction feature.

The entire device may be formed of a tough, relatively rigid, plastic soas to enable a certain amount of resiliency and to resist corrosion andrust.

Common to the different forms of the invention is the structure in whichthe tensioning force of the yieldable means 24 is applied to the longerlegs at points intermediate the terminal outer ends of the legs and thetreadengaging means or bars 8 with the portion between said terminalouter ends and bars being spaced from the tire-engaging means or discs18.

This structure, plus the fact that the terminal outer ends of the legsare in pivotal and slidable engagement with the inclined surfaces orledges 22, keeps the bars in engagement with the tread, without tilting,even when the tire flexes under a load.

I claim:

1. In an anti-skid traction device for use on a pneumatic tire on thewheel of a land vehicle, which device includes a plurality of generallyU-shaped elements having inner and outer legs respectively at the innerand outer sides of the tire and tread engaging pieces connecting one ofthe ends of said legs and extending across the tread of said tire, whensaid elements are in operative position, the improvement comprising:

a. tire-engaging means adapted to be positioned against the outer sideof said tire spaced radially in- .wardly from the tread of the latterand between said outer legs and said tire when said elements are in saidoperative positions,

b. the outer legs of said elements being of a uniform length and havingterminal outer ends in pivotal engagement with said tire-engaging meansfor movement of said tread-engaging pieces and said inner legs generallyradially inwardly about the points of engagement between said terminalouter ends and said tire-engaging means, and

c. elongated, yieldable means connected with the outer leg of each ofsaid elements at a point spaced between the tread-engaging piece andsaid terminal outer end of said outer leg extending radially inwardlyrelative to such tire for effecting said movement of said tread-engagingpieces about said points of engage-ment between said terminal ends ofsaid outer legs and said tire-engaging means upon tensioning saidyieldably means when said elements are in said operative positions, andeach of said yieldable means including means for so tensioning the same.

2. In the anti-skid traction device as defined in claim (I. saidtire-engaging means including stop elements thereon engageable with theterminal outer ends of said legs for defining fixed pointed about whichsaid elements are adapted to pivot upon tensioning said yieldable means.

3. In the anti-skid traction device as defined in claim d. saidtire-engaging means comprising a disc coaxial with said tire whenagainst said outer side of the latter having outwardly facingelement-engaging surfaces pivotally and slidably supporting saidterminal outer ends of said outer legs during said tensioning of saidtensioning means.

4. In the anti-skid traction device as defined in claim e. saidelement-engaging surfaces extending generally radially and angularlyoutwardly toward the axis of said tire when said disc is in engagementwith the outer side of said tire under the influence of the tensioningof said yieldable means whereby the tread-engaging pieces and inner legsof said elements will be held tightly against said tire during flexingof such tire upon its rotation under a load.

5. In the anti-skid traction device as defined in claim f. said U-shapedelements being in pairs at diametrically opposite points around the tirewhen in said operative positions, and said yieldable means comprisingelastic members respectively connected at the opposite ends thereof withthe elements of each opposite pair thereof.

6. In the anti-skid traction device as defined in claim e. said elementsand said tire-engaging means being automatically releasable from saidtire and wheel upon releasing the tension on said yieldable means,

and

f. said disc being formed around its outer marginal portion with anannular row of equally spaced recesses for receiving and positioningsaid treadengaging elements around such tire when said disc is againstsaid tire and said elements are in said operative position,

' g. each of said recesses including a bottom wall having a pair of saidelement-engaging surfaces thereon, and a channel between said surfacesfor said elongated yieldable elements.

7. In combination with the wheel of a motor vehicle, which wheelincludes a pneumatic tire having inner and outer lateral sidesrespectively facing inwardly and outwardly of the sides of said vehicleand a road-engaging tread, an anti-skid traction device comprising;

a. a plurality of generally U-shaped elements equally positioned aroundsaid tire having inner and outer legs respectively extending generallyradially inwardly over the inner and outer sides of said tire at thetread thereof, and tread-engaging pieces connecting the outer ends ofsaid legs and extending horizontally across and in engagement with thetread-engaging tread of said tire,

b. tire-engaging means positioned against, but free from attachment toouter lateral side of said tire,

c. said outer legs extending laterally terminating in terminal endspositioned over and in pivotal and slidable engagement with saidtire-engaging means at points spaced radially inwardly and axiallyoutwardly of said tread and wheel,

d. the portions of said outer legs between said terminal outer endsthereof and said tread-engaging pieces being free from engagement withsaid tire and said tire-engaging means whereby a radially inwardlydirected force applied to each of said legs at a point spaced betweenits terminal outer end and the tread-engaging piece will cause said U-shaped element to fulcrum about the point of engagement between saidterminal outer end and said tire-engaging means for moving and holdingsaid tread-engaging piece horizontally against said tread duringrotation of the tire on the ground and during flexing of said tire undera load, and

e. yieldable means connected with each of said legs at said point spacedbetween its terminal outer end and said tread-engaging piece for soapplying said radially inwardly directed force' 8. In the combination asdefined in claim 7;

f. said yieldable means and said tread-engaging elements being free fromattachment to said wheel and to said tire-engaging means,

g. manually actuatable means independently of said wheel andtire-engaging means connected with said yieldable means for releasablytensioning the latter when said U-shaped elements and tire-engagingmeans are in operative position on a wheel.

9. In the combination as defined in claim 7;

f. said tire-engaging means comprising a circular disc having aplurality of recesses therein removably receiving said outer legs forpositioning said U- shaped elements in predetermined positions aroundsaid tread with said terminal outer ends of said outer legs in saidengagement with said tireengaging means on portions of the bottoms ofsaid recesses.

10. In the combination as defined in claim 9;

g. said portions of said recesses being ledges along opposite sides ofsaid recesses, and said yieldable means being respectively disposed inthe portion of each recess between said ledges, said lastmentionedportion being deeper than the position of said ledges.

1. In an anti-skid traction device for use on a pneumatic tire on thewheel of a land vehicle, which device includes a plurality of generallyU-shaped elements having inner and outer legs respectively at the innerand outer sides of the tire and tread engaging pieces connecting one ofthe ends of said legs and extending across the tread of said tire, whensaid elements are in operative position, the improvement comprising: a.tire-engaging means adapted to be positioned against the outer side ofsaid tire spaced radially inwardly from the tread of the latter andbetween said outer legs and said tire when said elements are in saidoperative positions, b. the outer legs of said elements being of auniform length and having terminal outer ends in pivotal engagement withsaid tire-engaging means for movement of said tread-engaging pieces andsaid inner legs generally radially inwardly about the points ofengagement between said terminal outer ends and said tire-engagingmeans, and c. elongated, yieldable means connected with the outer leg ofeach of said elements at a point spaced between the treadengaging pieceand said terminal outer end of said outer leg extending radiallyinwardly relative to such tire for effecting said movement of saidtread-engaging pieces about said points of engage-ment between saidterminal ends of said outer legs and said tire-engaging means upontensioning said yieldably means when said elements are in said operativepositions, and each of said yieldable means including means for sotensioning the same.
 2. In the anti-skid traction deVice as defined inclaim 1; d. said tire-engaging means including stop elements thereonengageable with the terminal outer ends of said legs for defining fixedpointed about which said elements are adapted to pivot upon tensioningsaid yieldable means.
 3. In the anti-skid traction device as defined inclaim 1; d. said tire-engaging means comprising a disc coaxial with saidtire when against said outer side of the latter having outwardly facingelement-engaging surfaces pivotally and slidably supporting saidterminal outer ends of said outer legs during said tensioning of saidtensioning means.
 4. In the anti-skid traction device as defined inclaim 3; e. said element-engaging surfaces extending generally radiallyand angularly outwardly toward the axis of said tire when said disc isin engagement with the outer side of said tire under the influence ofthe tensioning of said yieldable means whereby the tread-engaging piecesand inner legs of said elements will be held tightly against said tireduring flexing of such tire upon its rotation under a load.
 5. In theanti-skid traction device as defined in claim 4; f. said U-shapedelements being in pairs at diametrically opposite points around the tirewhen in said operative positions, and said yieldable means comprisingelastic members respectively connected at the opposite ends thereof withthe elements of each opposite pair thereof.
 6. In the anti-skid tractiondevice as defined in claim 3; e. said elements and said tire-engagingmeans being automatically releasable from said tire and wheel uponreleasing the tension on said yieldable means, and f. said disc beingformed around its outer marginal portion with an annular row of equallyspaced recesses for receiving and positioning said tread-engagingelements around such tire when said disc is against said tire and saidelements are in said operative position, g. each of said recessesincluding a bottom wall having a pair of said element-engaging surfacesthereon, and a channel between said surfaces for said elongatedyieldable elements.
 7. In combination with the wheel of a motor vehicle,which wheel includes a pneumatic tire having inner and outer lateralsides respectively facing inwardly and outwardly of the sides of saidvehicle and a road-engaging tread, an anti-skid traction devicecomprising; a. a plurality of generally U-shaped elements equallypositioned around said tire having inner and outer legs respectivelyextending generally radially inwardly over the inner and outer sides ofsaid tire at the tread thereof, and tread-engaging pieces connecting theouter ends of said legs and extending horizontally across and inengagement with the tread-engaging tread of said tire, b. tire-engagingmeans positioned against, but free from attachment to outer lateral sideof said tire, c. said outer legs extending laterally terminating interminal ends positioned over and in pivotal and slidable engagementwith said tire-engaging means at points spaced radially inwardly andaxially outwardly of said tread and wheel, d. the portions of said outerlegs between said terminal outer ends thereof and said tread-engagingpieces being free from engagement with said tire and said tire-engagingmeans whereby a radially inwardly directed force applied to each of saidlegs at a point spaced between its terminal outer end and thetread-engaging piece will cause said U-shaped element to fulcrum aboutthe point of engagement between said terminal outer end and saidtire-engaging means for moving and holding said tread-engaging piecehorizontally against said tread during rotation of the tire on theground and during flexing of said tire under a load, and e. yieldablemeans connected with each of said legs at said point spaced between itsterminal outer end and said tread-engaging piece for so applying saidradially inwardly directed force.
 8. In the combination as defined inclaim 7; f. said yieldable means And said tread-engaging elements beingfree from attachment to said wheel and to said tire-engaging means, g.manually actuatable means independently of said wheel and tire-engagingmeans connected with said yieldable means for releasably tensioning thelatter when said U-shaped elements and tire-engaging means are inoperative position on a wheel.
 9. In the combination as defined in claim7; f. said tire-engaging means comprising a circular disc having aplurality of recesses therein removably receiving said outer legs forpositioning said U-shaped elements in predetermined positions aroundsaid tread with said terminal outer ends of said outer legs in saidengagement with said tire-engaging means on portions of the bottoms ofsaid recesses.
 10. In the combination as defined in claim 9; g. saidportions of said recesses being ledges along opposite sides of saidrecesses, and said yieldable means being respectively disposed in theportion of each recess between said ledges, said last-mentioned portionbeing deeper than the position of said ledges.